al,
seems to be the most cruel and foolish law of the whole Chinese criminal
code.

[22] We know by the "History of the Chinese Pirates," that these "wasps
of the ocean," to speak with _Yuen tsze yung lun_, were originally
divided into six squadrons.

[23] In the barbarous Chinese-English spoken at Canton, all things are
indiscriminately called _chop_. You hear of a chop-house, chop-boat,
tea-chop, Chaou-chaou-chop, etc. To give a bill or agreement on making a
bargain is in Chinese called _ch[)a] tan_; ch[)a] in the pronunciation
of Canton is _chop_, which is then applied to any writing whatever.

[24] The following is the _Character of the Chinese of Canton, as given
in ancient Chinese books_: "People of Canton are silly, light, weak in
body, and weak in mind, without any ability to fight on land."

[25] _Joss_ is a Chinese corruption of the Portuguese _Dios_, _God_. The
Joss, or idol, of which Mr. Glasspoole speaks is the _San po shin_,
which is spoken of in the work of Yuen tsze.

THE FEMALE CAPTIVE[26]

LUCRETIA PARKER

The event which is here related is the capture by the Pirates of the
English sloop _Eliza Ann_, bound from St. Johns to Antigua, and the
massacre of the whole crew (ten in number) with the exception of one
female passenger, whose life, by the interposition of Divine Providence,
was miraculously preserved. The particulars are copied from a letter
written by the unfortunate Miss Parker (the female passenger above
alluded to) to her brother in New York.

St. Johns, April 3, 1825.

Dear Brother,

You have undoubtedly heard of my adverse fortune, and the shocking
incident that has attended me since I had the pleasure of seeing you
in November last. Anticipating your impatience to be made acquainted
with a more circumstantial detail of my extraordinary adventures, I
shall not on account of the interest which I know you must feel in
my welfare, hesitate to oblige you; yet, I must declare to you that
it is that consideration alone that prompts me to do it, as even
the recollection of the scenes which I have witnessed you must be
sensible must ever be attended with pain: and that I cannot reflect
on what I have endured, and the scenes of horror that I have been
witness to, without the severest shock. I shall now, brother,
proceed to furnish you with a detail of my misfortunes as they
occur